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Saturday, June 27, 2009
R.I.P. Michael Jackson
Now that the Ontario PC Leadership Race has ended, I figure we can follow the rest of the media by getting on our knees and paying homage to Michael Jackson.
While the coverage of this event has been a little excessive (CTV News Channel seems to have been all Jackson all the time for the past few days), he was certainly an influential figure who many of us grew up listening to. He also exhibited lots of strange behaviour, including changing his skin colour, dangling his child from a balcony, as well as being accused of reprehensible acts of child abuse. Yet, it is likely that he will be remembered for his glory days when he was on top of the world:
What are your thoughts on the media coverage of Jackson's death and the man himself?
Update: The following video has been brought to my attention. I think it's hilarious and raises some good points, but I'm posting it against my better judgment, as it contains strong language and is not safe for work.
Posted by Jesse Kline on June 27, 2009 in Music | Permalink
Comments
I'm more upset that Farrah Fawcett and Ed MacMahon passed on.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2009-06-27 9:01:02 PM
He was very talented and conflicted. And in the end, just plain bizarre. His funeral will likely be the greatest freak show ever seen in the history of the planet. And if there's any truth to the allegations of molestation I hope God can forgive him, I never could. RIP.
Posted by: The original JC | 2009-06-27 9:06:28 PM
There are plenty of real bums in America, who seem to be worshipped, in spite of being social misfits.
Tommy Lee kicked his pregnant wife in the stomach, and now has his own TV show.
Hugh Hefner is a pimp, and he's considered the grand old man of entertainment.
Pee Wee Herman got out of jail, and went straight into a hit movie.
Jeffrey Jones (Ferris Bueller vice principal) gets busted in a huge child porn sting, and goes on to star in a hit TV series (Deadwood).
Don King kills two people, and becomes a celebrated symbol of the American dream.
As long as someone is generating revenue, he can literally get away with murder. Child molesting is mere trifle, a hazing, at worst.
One thing though, not paying your taxes is unforgivable. Just ask Wesley Snipes, or Joe Louis. Joe Louis was a great American, who donated more to those in need than Muhammed Ali ever did, but he forgot to pay taxes on the money first. He was hounded to death, while Ali was elevated to sainthood. People forget that Ali was associated with some of the worst criminals on earth.
I suppose a nation that idolizes Jesse James, John Dillinger, and Al Capone wouldn't have a problem overlooking Michael Jackson's eccentricities.
Posted by: dp | 2009-06-27 9:32:55 PM
"His funeral will likely be the greatest freak show ever seen in the history of the planet."
No, JC, the Ayatollah Khomeini's funeral will never be outdone.
Posted by: dp | 2009-06-27 9:39:02 PM
He had a great singing career but I think his upbringing in the music business(not just within the family), fan idolation, and the power of money, were the seeds to his bizarre behavior.
A schedule of fifty concert dates ahead could be a real killer, too.
Posted by: Terry Killian | 2009-06-27 9:40:23 PM
//I'm more upset that Farrah Fawcett and Ed MacMahon passed on.//
This confuses me... How can any individual be "upset" at the passing of someone they've never met?
Posted by: Richard Evans | 2009-06-27 10:32:17 PM
"How can any individual be "upset" at the passing of someone they've never met?"
If that person had an effect on your life, I can understand his death being upsetting. Not many Americans ever met JFK, or Dr. King, but their deaths were upsetting for hundreds of millions.
I never understood why people made such a fuss over princess Diana.
I remember where I was when I heard about Elvis, but not because I was a fan. It was cooking hot, and I was trying to sleep off a hangover, in a crappy motel with no air conditioning. Someone woke me up with the news.
Posted by: dp | 2009-06-27 11:09:42 PM
"How can any individual be "upset" at the passing of someone they've never met?"
The death of John Lennon upset me very much. It ruined my birthday at the time and I eventually went and sat on the spot where he was shot and watched people put flowers there, 14 years after his death.
Some people just have an impact on your life.
Posted by: The original JC | 2009-06-27 11:12:24 PM
The Sunday Mail article on Jackson gives a lot of insight into his demise. The detailing involving the Nation of Islam are interesting to say the least.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196009/Im-better-dead-Im-How-Michael-Jackson-predicted-death-months-ago.html
Posted by: The Stig | 2009-06-28 7:08:52 AM
Say, what ever happened to that little flare up in Iran? Hate to say I told you so.
The only reason I even thought about it is there's a record high temp. there today, 48 degrees. I was watching the weather network, because I'm sick of hearing about Michael Jackson.
Neda who?
Posted by: dp | 2009-06-28 10:29:47 AM
And they just announced that Billy Mays, the bearded guy in those infomercials and the Pitchmen show, has just died. What will happen to Oxi-Clean, Orange Glo,Kaboom?
Posted by: The Stig | 2009-06-28 11:04:23 AM
Stig- Looks like a great career opportunity for the Sham-Wow guy.
Posted by: dp | 2009-06-28 11:14:25 AM
Stig- Looks like a great career opportunity for the Sham-Wow guy.
Posted by: dp | 2009-06-28 11:14:25 AM
You mean Scam-Wow. See what I'm telling ya. I say WOW every time I use it. But if you call in the next 20 minutes we'll double your order for FREE.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmoLdAilAe0&feature=related
Posted by: The Stig | 2009-06-28 1:05:38 PM
More importantly, what will happen to Jaboody Dubs (strong language and poor taste alert)?
Posted by: P.M. Jaworski | 2009-06-28 1:25:27 PM
"There are plenty of real bums in America,who seem to be worshipped, in spite of being total misfits." That's hitting the nail right on the head d.p., I'll drink to that!
Posted by: glen | 2009-06-28 3:59:04 PM
RIP economy. Will michael jackson recover and what will it look like if he does?
Posted by: Timothy Shaw-Zak | 2009-06-28 6:08:18 PM
Frankly, I'll miss Mr OxyClean, also dead suddenly today, more than the king of weird.
Posted by: Manny | 2009-06-28 6:44:46 PM
The autopsy will show MJ died of food poisoning.
Seems like he ate too many eight-year old wieners.
Posted by: set you free | 2009-06-28 7:40:41 PM
Ok. That second video was hilarious. Just don't watch it if you're at work. Or around children.
Posted by: Terrence Watson | 2009-06-28 11:28:02 PM
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